AC towing

[Linkon]

Hi - could the Aircarft be towed upto the runway using towbarless? this may result in some fuel savings - but do not know if it would be possible operationallywhat ur thoughts.

[tigger2k8]

its possible, infact i think it was trialled by Virgin at LGW? I could be wrong though.... but it would be a logistical nightmare if every aircraft started doing it, tugs would be everywhere :}

[Gas Bags]

This is not practical for a couple of reasons,

The apron (where the aircraft are parked and turned around) is a different section of the airport than a taxiway (which is where and aircraft departs the apron on its way to the...) runway which is again another section of the airport than the others.

As far as ground manouvering is concerned all the different sections are controlled by the airport authorities and you need clearance for any vehicle to enter any of the areas, be it an aircraft or a tow vehicle. I assume you mean some form of powerpush when you say towbarless?

This would mean the need for the airport authority to control two vehicles (the powerpush and the aircraft, once they have seperated, in a high traffic, multi-user area, being a taxiway).

The second reason is that jet engines are expensive items and the longer you can delay the time from start-up to take-off power the longer the lifespan of the engine. An average take-off power temp on a modern jet engine is in the order of 900+ degrees C. The longer the engine has to stabilise after start before it is subjected to these temps the better the chance it will last in normal service between shop visits. By that I mean the saving of some taxi fuel from the apron to just short of the runway may cause a massive increase in the maintenance costs of any given engine due to starting later and going to max power sooner after that start.

GB

[Linkon]

may thanks for a detailed response.